By Priyanka Bhandarkar
Rocket Science
noun
something that is very difficult to understand
What is rocket science?
It is one of the branches of aerospace engineering.
Deals with launching satellites or testing ballistic missiles.
Rocket Scientists are brilliant people but rocket science is based on concepts that we understand
“It's not rocket science”--
George Bush came up with this term first and he is credited to have mixed this metaphor with others.
Synonyms for this idiom include a “It's not brain surgery” conveying a similar message of the task's simplicity.The job is challenging but it's not exactly rocket science.
The expression is used in its negative connotation that means something easy to understand or do.
Rocket Science became synonymous with something complicated and is used as a humorous idiom and has been in use everyday since the 80s when it was used to describe Football coaching-'Coaching Football is not Rocket Science and it's not brain surgery'.
The word rocket came into English in the early 17th century from Italian via French.The Italian word 'rocchetto' is a diminutive of 'rocca' meaning distaff.The connection between the two objects is their cylindrical shape.
Rocket Science is a colloquial term for aerospace engineering and is the science for designing or building rockets.
When a Rocket is on flight four forces act on it.1)Weight 2)Thrust 3)Lift 4)Drag.
F=MA is the math used in Rocket Science which applies to launching of the Rocket.
There are four major systems of a Full Scale Rocket.The Structural system,The Payload System,The Guidance system and The Propulsion System.Rocket Science is a synthesis of numerous engineering disciplines including Physics and Chemistry.Students tend to view rocket scientists as clever and brilliant.Brain surgery is far more demanding than building rockets.
Rockets deliver satellites to space where they can begin to do their important work.Without rockets we would not be able to use our smartphones,watch television,know weather forecast,navigate or use the Internet or explore the world outside us.
Robert Hutchings Goddard is considered the father of modern rocket propulsion.(1882-1945).
But the idea was first developed by Russian School Teacher and rocket pioneer Konstantin Tsiolkovsky as early as 1903.
The first rockets were used as propulsion systems for arrows and may have appeared in the 10th century in Song dynasty China.Rocket engineering took off in the 1930s and 1940s.In Rocket Science scientists use math to calculate how much fuel the rocket needs to take off to space and return to earth.Calculus really is Rocket Science.Rocket Science is the study of how to design and build rockets and how to efficiently launch a vehicle into space.The course of rocket science focuses on chemical propulsion rocket systems for launch,orbital and interplanetary flight.Most rockets use aerospace grade aluminum or titanium.Since both the metals are very strong and lightweight but future designs are looking into carbon composite structures.
Newton's Third Law is used for flying rockets into space.For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.The price of a rocket now costs $97 million.Liquid Hydrogen is used as fuel since it yields the highest specific impulse.
The first rocket was the R-7 ICBM which was used to launch Sputnik into space.
For a rocket to be stable the center of pressure needs to be closer to the tail end than the center of the mass.Rocket boosters consume 11,000 pounds of fuel per second.
Rockets work by expelling hot exhaust that acts in the same way as the basketball.The tallest rocket ever built was the Saturn V Rocket.To control their flight rockets use momentum,airfoils,auxiliary reaction engines,gimballed thrust,momentum wheels,deflection of the exhaust stream,propellant flow,spin or gravity.A Rocket in its simplest form is a chamber enclosing a gas under pressure.
The rockets give enough energy to boost the satellites into space but because of the pull of Earth's Gravity, the heaviest spacecraft need the biggest rockets.
Rocket grade petroleum is called RP-1 and consists of highly refined Kerosene mixed with liquid oxygen.
Rockets are used for fireworks,missiles,weaponry,launch vehicles,human spaceflight and space exploration.When the Astronauts want to return to Earth they turn on the engines,to push their spacecraft out of orbit.Gravity then pulls the spacecraft back towards the Earth.A rocket insertion to low earth orbit is achieved around 1200-1500 miles.The Rocket has four main parts:nose cone,fins,rocket body and engine.There are three stages of a rocket launch---Primary Stage,Secondary Stage and Payload.
HISTORY
The principles of rocketry were first tested more than 2,000 years ago but only in the past 70 years rockets have been used to launch satellites into space.
In an example at that time Archytas, a Greek philosopher and mathematician, showed off a pseudo-rocket:a wooden pigeon suspended on wires.The pigeon was propelled by escaping steam,according to Nasa.After this the Greek Mathematician Hero is said to have invented the aeolipile also called Hero's engine.This is a sphere shaped device that sat on top of a boiling pool of water.
The first military use of rocket technology was also recorded in China later in 1232 CE,according to Smithsonian Magazine against the Mongol Empire.This was called the Ground Rat.
There is a legend surrounding the mandarin Wan Hu around 1500 AD.The story goes--as he sat on a chair 47 Coolies lit 47 black powder rockets that were attached to it and Wan Hu traveled a short distance in space and then disappeared in a cloud of smoke.Jules Verne's vision is influential for rocketry pioneers for generations to come even after it's publication.The three Fathers of Rocketry are Robert Goddard,Hermann Oberth and Konstantin E.Tsiolkovsky coming from an era when people were less sensitive about the use of gendered language.Still these individuals have a large footprint on the development of rocketry as we understand it today.
The first rocket mission was Sputnik which launched the soviet satellite Sputnik 1 into space in October 4,1957.The first living beings alive sent to space were monkeys and dogs.
In April 1968 Sarabhai set up a group to study the feasibility of developing a launch vehicle to carry a satellite weighing about 30 kg.The PSLV-Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle- has proved to be remarkably rugged and versatile transporting a variety of operational ones such as Chandrayaan.The highest salary paid to an ISRO scientist is Rs 80,000.
Rockets as weapons of war flourished in India from the reign of Emperor Akbar but the most well documented exploits recorded are of Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan of Mysore in the late 18th century.
Rohini is India's first indigenously developed rocket.He is considered to be the pioneer of Mysorean Rockets which was used against the British East India Company.Tipu created iron tubes filled with gunpowder,hoisted them on flags or bamboo poles and mounted them on ramps for better accuracy and range.Tipu is known as the father of modern rockets.
India's space odyssey began on November 21,1963 from Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station,Kerala.The Team had to acquire land from a local church and relocate the villagers before preparations could begin.They moved the components to the launch pad via bicycle and it was named after the famous astronomer Aryabhatta.India has two operational rockets PSLV and GSLV.The Indian Space Research Organization has carried out 114 spacecraft missions,83 launch missions and planned several others including the human spaceflight mission Gaganyaan.
Millions of Indians found inspiration in Dr APJ Abdul Kalam widely known as the Missile Man of India.He was an aerospace scientist and a phenomenal teacher who served as the 11th President of India from 2002 to 2007 and was widely referred to as the 'People's President'.
This passion for flying was aroused by the beautiful birds which inspired Abdul Kalam to design India's first Rocket.
THE STORY
"I HAVE WINGS.I WILL FLY".
There was a Flock of Pigeons who lived on a Banyan Tree.One day while flying they saw grains scattered on the ground.They alighted on the ground.But it was a trap set by a hunter.The Pigeons were caught.They were disappointed.Their leader was a wise Pigeon and knew the power of unity.There was a Leap of Faith.All the Pigeons tried in unison and were able to fly away with the net.
Moral:UNITY IS STRENGTH.
UNKNOWN STORIES OF APJ ABDUL KALAM.
Abdul Kalam has always been known for his knowledge and kindness.Here are some real life incidents that show how inspiring the man has always been.
1.When he made Indian Scientists get VIP treatment at the Paris airport.
When some ISRO scientists were returning from French Guiana after overseeing the testing of a communication satellite they were in for a surprise.After checking their passports the airport officers continued to escort them by which they were confused.On asking the reason the officers told that they had orders to do so.A senior officer then asked them to use the VIP lounge of the airline as their flight was scheduled late.But the scientists had only economy tickets and on enquiry were told that president Kalam was boarding a flight from the same terminal and had requested the same services for them also.Amused the scientists used the lounge.Kalam in spite of his busy agenda had remembered that there was a satellite launch and there would be many scientists from India traveling to and fro and had provided VIP services for them to ensure a successful mission.
2.When his team worker could not take his kids to an exhibition because of his hectic work.
During a hectic project one of the 70 scientists working on it had asked to leave that evening since he had to take his kids to an exhibition.But the scientist got busy and didn't realize the clock was ticking.Guilty for disappointing his kids he went back home to find them missing.When he asked his wife he was told that his manager had come and had taken his kids to the exhibition.That manager was none other than Abdul Kalam.
3.When he asked an Indian student to have dinner from his plate.
When some Indian students met him during the International Space Development Conference at California they went up to him to say hello.Kalam who was eating dinner asked the student to eat from his plate.The student took a leaf of spinach from the salad and replied that he has derived a leaf of inspiration that day and had had the best dinner of his lifetime that he could have ever imagined.
4.When he did not want broken glass on the walls because it could harm the birds.
While he was working on a construction project with DRDO he questioned the team about the security to which the team suggested to use broken glass on the walls but the president turned down the decision and retaliated that the birds would not be able to perch on the walls and to think of something else.It was a thought provoking answer which infused inspiration in the whole team.
5.When an excited kid drew a sketch of him and he sent a thank you letter!
A class 6 student made a sketch of Kalam after reading his book "Wings of Fire".His family got super excited and asked him to mail it to the president and he did so after a little hesitance to which he got an envelope from the President himself which had a small note which thanked him for the drawing with best wishes.
6.When he gave a back bencher an internship with the Rashtrapati Bhawan.
A batch of students from IIM Indore were to give a presentation to Kalam in groups.It was a big chance to impress Kalam.Everyone was working hard but a group of backbenchers who began work only two days before.One of the students was not able to add color,format and animation to the slides because of lack of sleep.To this Kalam did the formatting himself for the presentation by the group.He gave them a Golden Visiting Card and asked the student to call the office after two days.When the guy made the call it was known that he had been chosen for an internship by the UNO.
7.When he invited a cobbler as a Presidential guest.
After he was elected President Kalam attended an event at Kerala Raj Bhavan in Trivandrum.With the power vested in him he could not invite guests more than two.He invited a roadside cobbler and owner of a small hotel.Kalam had spent a significant time in Kerala and had invited people he was close to during his time in Kerala.
8.When he refused to sit on a chair reserved for him because it was bigger than the other chairs.
Kalam was invited to a conference ceremony at Varanasi.Five chairs were put on the stage the middle one being for Kalam and the others for University officials but the chair in the middle was bigger in size than the others to which he refused to take a seat and politely asked the chancellor to sit instead.So,another chair of the same size was made available.
9.When he asked people on Yahoo how we could free our planet from terrorism.
Which politician could do that?The best part was that most of the famous personalities of the nation answered the question including Leander Paes,Kiran Bedi and Sri Ravi Shankar.
10.When he was about to deliver a lecture to 400 students and the power went off,he took the matter in his own hands.
When Dr.Kalam was about to deliver a lecture at a small school the electricity went off and instead of waiting for it to come back he walked into the middle of the crowd and delivered an inspiring lecture with his bare voice.
Some Lesser known facts.
1.He was a vegetarian and relished south Indian food.
2.He experienced failure early in his career and learnt from it.
3.He did not have a T.V and prefered to get his news from the radio.
Vikram Sarabhai
Fondly called the Founder of the Indian Space Program Vikram Sarabhai wasca man much ahead of his times.Born into a wealthy family he enjoyed a privileged childhood.From a young age he developed an interest in science and mathematics.He became obsessed with science and studied in England.He wanted to contribute to our country and has played an instrumental role in the establishment of the now Indian Space Research Organization in 1969.For his visionary work in the field of space science the scientist was decorated with two if India's most honorable awards:the Padma Bhusan(1966) and the Padma Vibhushan(1972).He was appointed the chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission of India and is also credited for setting up the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station in Southern India and has helped in developing nuclear technology for defense.He was able to convince the newly formed Independent Indian Government of the importance of a space program for a developing country like India.Sarabhai died at the age of 52 due to cardiac arrest in Trivandrum and his body was cremated in Ahmedabad.
HOMI BHABHA
Ge was an Indian born nuclear physicist who made important contributions to Quantum theory and Cosmic radiation and is known as the Father of Indian Nuclear Program.He was the first chairman of The Atomic Energy Commission of India.
10 Things you should know.
1.Education and research.
He was a merit student right from his childhood and had a super active brain and passed the senior cambridge exam at the age of 15 and was awarded the Salomons studentship in Engineering.
2.The Study of cosmic rays and other contributions.
In 1937 he presented the Cascade Theory of Electron Showers which explains the process of electrons in the field of cosmic radiation and contributed towards theory of elementary particles and Quantum Theory.
3.Inception of the Two research Institutes.
A discussion with the Industrialist J.R.D Tata led to the formation of Tata Institute of Fundamental Research.Trombay Atomic Energy Establishment is also a brain child of Bhabha.
4.Visionary behind India's Three stage Nuclear Program.
He is credited with the strategy of focussing on extracting power from the vast Thorium reserves instead of Uranium which was in contrast to the strategy of all other countries and became the objective behind India's three stage nuclear program.
5.International Prominence
After deriving a correct expression for the probability of scattering positrons by electrons now known as Bhabha scattering his work was appreciated to global level including his work on Compton scattering,R-Princess and furthermore advancement of Nuclear Physics.
6.Padma Bushan
He was awarded the Padma Bhusan in 1954 for his several contributions to the nation in the field of Physics and Atomic research.
7.A Great patron of Art and Music
Bhabha was also a painter,a classical music and Opera enthusiast besides being an amateur botanist.His interest spread beyond to culture and art and believed that both enriches human life.
8.The Canada-India Reactor--Cirus
The credit for building the three reactors Apsara, Cirus,Zerlina goes to Bhabha which was built by Trombay with foreign assistance in 1955 when Canada came forward to build a reactor in India at the Geneva conference and received the consent of Nehru within three days.
9.A Great Leader
"A scientist does not belong to a particular nation.He belongs to the whole world.The doors of science should be kept open to all those who work for the welfare of humanity."
He thus worked tirelessly in his endeavors.
10.Tragic Death
Bhabha went to attend an International Conference and he died when Air India Flight 101 crashed near Mont Blanc on 24 January 1966.As a Tribute Atomic Energy Institute Trombay was renamed Bhabha Atomic Research Center on January 12,1967.
Why wasn't the death of Vikram Sarabhai and Homi Bhabha probed into?
The Story of the Three Extraordinary Scientists 1.APJ ABDUL KALAM 2.VIKRAM SARABHAI 3.HOMI BHABHA
are known as The Rocket Boys.
ROCKETRY----The Nambi Effect.
Based on the life of Indian Space Research Organization scientist Nambi Narayan who was framed for being a spy and arrested in 1994.
A strange turn of fate may have brought an abrupt and unexpected end to the glorious life of two of India's eminent scientific geniuses Homi Bhabha and Vikram Sarabhai but their death still remain shrouded in mystery says former ISRO scientist Nambi Narayan in his autobiography which is getting ready for print.
"He was 52 very healthy and reported to have died in sleep after working till 11P.M.''Surprisingly there was no postmortem done despite him dying under mysterious circumstances.''says Nambi Narayan in his autobiography.
Sarabhai's death at a hotel room in Kovalam after witnessing a Russian Rocket blast off and inaugurating the Thumba railway station still remains a mystery.
Five years before Sarabhai's death Bhabha died when Air India Flight 101 crashed but no debris was found.Then reports by conspiracy theorists pointed to a sabotage by the CIA that intended to impede India's Nuclear Programme.However Bhabha's death still remains a mystery.It was reported that his death came at a time soon after he announced that India could produce a nuclear device in a short time.
"It was reported that Bhabha died in an air crash but why no black box could be found",asks Nambi Narayan.
Nambi Narayan was an aerospace engineer who previously worked with Indian Space Research Organization.He came into the limelight in 1994 when he was arrested under false charges of espionage.Narayan was later given a compensation of Rs 1.3 crore by the Kerala government.He was said to have transferred drawings and documents of rocket engines to Pakistan via two Maldivian women Mariam Rasheeda and Fauziyya Hassan suspected to be spys.He was in judicial custody for 11 days.It turned into an espionage case.Rocketry premiered at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival on 19 May,and was theatrically released in India on 1 July 2022.Rocketry has grossed 50 crores world wide.In 2019 the government of India bestowed upon him the Padma Bhushan the third highest civilian honor for leading his team to develop the Vikas engine and help India leapfrog into the era of PSLV rockets.
Rocketry is the narration of the contributions of one of India's premier space scientists and the great personal cost that he is unfairly made to pay for the passion he had for his job and country.
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By Priyanka Bhandarkar
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